Flagstaff County approves Nights Alive grant for a further three years, program looks to move to Killam

Flagstaff County Council has approved a three-year conditional grant to FFCS for the Nights Alive youth program budget, which this year includes the rental of the FFCS basement.

As the current funding runs to 2015, the three-year grant includes $83,749 from May-December 2015, $128,402 for 2016, and $134,151 for 2017.

The goals and objectives for the next three years includes working with Flagstaff youth to involve their ideas in programming, among other things.

The program focus will also include building relationships among Flagstaff youth from all different communities and schools, in a safe and secure gathering place. Programmers are also looking to enhance adult volunteer involvement in the program.

The Nights Alive program was designed with youth at its core, and was always intended to change and adapt to the wishes of Flagstaff youth ages 14 through 17, and will continue to do so.

Reviews from users, volunteers, staff, and the community have shown the first three years of the program to be right on target with its goals.

Council will be tendering the former administration building, current home to Nights Alive, for sale by tender.

FFCS Executive Director Lynne Jenkinson says that she expects the move out of the present location to happen sooner than later, but she doesn’t have a firm date yet.

She says the basement of the FFCS building in Killam has plenty of light and space, adding that it is unfinished at present. She wants to talk to a contractor and plumber as soon as possible to have a kitchen added.

“We’re kind of excited about the move, because it brings us all together,” said Jenkinson, speaking for herself and Nights Alive Program Director Sue Freadrich.

Leslie Cholowsky
Editor